It's good you can be flexible, Pax. But, you can always sell when that silly lawsuit gets resolved.
I think a lot of people make these decisions looking through rose colored glasses. I know myself well enough to know the politics and cultural stuff would be things I couldn't live with. Yes, I prefer my bubble! While not on the level that Emily travels, we have downsized enough now, to ensure that we can continue to travel the way we have in the past few years, even when DH stops working. We sat down and thought about what we couldn't really give up and that was it, along with going out to eat. So, while I feel a little cramped in my new home (just a little, really). Anything else we do is either free or cheap, like cycling or hiking or nordic skiing.